ESPN lists the Jags as the second-best fit for Lamar Jackson

It goes without saying Lamar Jackson is probably the most popular name in this week’s upcoming draft despite analyst having a hard time pinpointing where he’ll land. One of the reasons for that is some feel he’ll need to go to a place where he can sit and learn the ropes, which explains why a lot of people have labeled Jacksonville as a fit. Count ESPN’s Matt Bowen as one who is on board with him coming to Jacksonville as he recently listed the Jags as the second-best fit for the Florida native.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: No. 29

​Blake Bortles’ offseason contract extension shouldn’t scare off the Jaguars from drafting a quarterback early. It was a short-term deal, and Jacksonville can move on if Bortles doesn’t produce. Jackson is a logical fit for an offense under coordinator Nathaniel Hackett that leaned on middle-of-the-field play-action passes, boots and a dash of RPOs during the Jaguars’ run to the AFC title game last season […] With that run-heavy approach in Jacksonville, and Leonard Fournette seeing high-volume touches, Jackson would be dropped into a system that works to create much more manageable game situations — and open windows off play-pass — for quarterbacks. The system can be expanded to better use Jackson’s talents, however.

Bowen added that Jackson would give them a better athlete than Bortles in the backfield and stated that he also has the skill set to make the Jags’ vertical passing game better.

Unfortunately, for those who are fans of Jackson and the Jags, it’s looking like he’ll be gone within the top-20 picks. In addition to that, the Jags haven’t really indicated that they would pull the trigger on a quarterback in round one. If anything, they are likely eying a late-round signal-caller to potentially groom and use their early selections to get some help for Blake Bortles.

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